INSIDE THIS ISSUEChina Southern Airlines Launches SFO-Wuhan-Guangzhou Service SFO First Airport in California to Allow Transportation Network Companies (TNC) Charity Golf Tournament Raises $60,000 for Local Charities American Express® Opens The Centurion Lounge at SFO Flight Arrivals: Upcoming Service Additions at SFO Egyptian Revival: An Everlasting Allure Airport Workers Clean Runways in 15th Anniversary FOD Walk Airport Employees Return Large Sum of Money Found in the Terminal |
China Southern Airlines Launches SFO-Wuhan-Guangzhou ServiceChina Southern Airlines began the first direct service from SFO to Wuhan and Guangzhou, China, on December 16, 2014. “San Francisco is pleased to welcome China Southern Airlines, and we are more than confident that this flight will be highly successful, based on the strong commerce and cultural ties between the Guangdong Province and our Bay Area region,” said Mayor Lee. “China Southern CEO Mr. Tan Wangeng and his team helped to facilitate the startup of the new service between SFO and Guangzhou via Wuhan as a result of our first meeting in China, and I thank China Southern for strengthening the relationship between our two regions.” SFO Director John L. Martin also expressed his enthusiasm over the new service. “The new flight establishes SFO as the premier gateway to the People’s Republic of China, offering service to more destinations in China than any other U.S. airport.” China Southern will operate flights three days per week, nonstop to Wuhan and continuing to Guangzhou, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The return flights will be Guangzhou-Wuhan-SFO. China Southern Airlines is the third largest airline in the world by passengers carried, and is the largest airline in Asia by fleet size. The airline is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, which includes Air France, Delta Air Lines, and KLM. In 2011, China Southern was awarded 4-Star status by SkyTrax, an independent international agency that monitors the aviation industry and whose aviation benchmarking surveys are considered among the most reliable in the world. For more information, visit China Southern Airlines. Last year, SFO launched www.flySFO.cn, the first dedicated Chinese-language airport website in the United States, offering navigation in Simplified Chinese.
SFO First Airport in California to Allow Transportation Network Companies (TNC)SFO recently entered into an agreement with Sidecar to allow the Transportation Network Company (TNC) to operate legally at the Airport. The permit, which allows the company to drop off and pick up customers at SFO, represents the first airport TNC agreement in the state of California. “San Francisco is at the forefront of the sharing economy and companies like Sidecar are creating real jobs for San Franciscans and making easier to get around our City,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “The sharing economy was born here, and I am committed to ensuring that San Francisco supports this innovation sector’s growth and success. Congratulations to Sidecar and SFO for reaching this historic agreement, the first in California, and one of the first in the United States.” “This permit reflects our commitment to new business models at SFO, and ensures safe, consistent service for our customers,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “I applaud Sidecar for taking the lead in their industry with the first authorized service at SFO. Their proactive approach sets an example for other transportation network companies to follow.” “This agreement underscores that when regulators and innovators work together customers win,” said Sidecar co-founder and CEO Sunil Paul. “We commend SFO for their forward thinking and developing a framework that will allow Sidecar to provide safe and affordable transportation to people who live in and visit our City.” Shortly thereafter, SFO reached agreements with Lyft, UberX and Wingz.
Charity Golf Tournament Raises $60,000 for Local Charities |
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The SFO Charity Golf Tournament Committee donated $60,000 to local charities on December 4, 2014. The funds were raised during a charity golf tournament held on October 6, 2014. Last year’s primary recipients, Little Children’s Aid, Star Community Home, and Operation Freedom Paws will share the major portion of the proceeds that was raised during the tournament. Additional honorary charities, made up of the ALS Association, North Peninsula Food Pantry & Dinning Center, Our Second Home, United Airlines Foundation for Fantasy Flight, and Palcare, will share a smaller portion of the proceeds. The SFO Charity Golf Tournament Committee is comprised of representatives of the San Francisco Airport community, including members of the San Francisco International Airport, the San Francisco Police Department – Airport Bureau, the San Francisco Fire Department – Airport Division, United Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Signature Flight Support, AvAirPros and ING Financial Partners. The Honorary Chairpersons for the event were San Francisco Airport Director John L. Martin, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr and San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White. For more information about the tournament, please contact Tournament Chairperson, Bob Massola at (650) 821-7032 or Bob.Massola@flysfo.com.
American Express® Opens The Centurion Lounge at SFO
American Express® Card Members may now enjoy The Centurion Lounge. SFO is only the fourth airport in the United States to host this lounge which features amenities including cuisine, bar and wine tasting, shower and workspaces with high-speed Wi-Fi and a computer bar, large flat screen TVs, magazines and newspapers, a family room and Am Ex member services. American Express® Card Members with a valid American Express® Credit or Charge Card are eligible to visit the Lounge. Any eligible American Express® Card Member may purchase a one-day pass at the Lounge, subject to capacity. Access is complimentary for Platinum Card® or Centurion® Members. The Centurion Lounge is located after security in Terminal 3 near Gate 74 and can also be reached by walking from International Terminal G. Passengers who are departing from another terminal will need to exit through security, take an AirTrain to Terminal 3 and re-enter through security. For more information, visit The Centurion Lounge.
Flight Arrivals: Upcoming Service Additions at SFO
Egyptian Revival: An Everlasting Allure
Egyptian culture first enchanted the West when Cleopatra captured the hearts of legendary Romans Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony more than two thousand years ago. Centuries later, Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign (1798–1801) ignited an inextinguishable fascination with ancient Egypt. Numerous scholars and artists accompanied Napoleon during his expedition to record the sights and discoveries of this mystifying land. A number of other significant events contributed to the West’s fascination with Egypt, particularly in the early 1800s and again in the later part of the century. This novel exposure to Egypt inspired Egyptian Revival. The design style permeated Western decorative arts, furniture, jewelry, architecture, commemorative, and funerary monuments. Obelisks, hieroglyphs, sphinxes, pyramids, scarabs, and lotus blossoms were popular motifs. In 1922, Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb and the extensive artifacts uncovered with it sparked renewed enthusiasm for all things Egyptian. Ancient Egypt influenced everything from commercial buildings, movie theaters, and films to clothing, mass-produced items, and advertisements. No other ancient civilization’s art and architecture has captivated the western world in quite the same manner. The public’s love of ancient Egypt remains eternal. Egyptian Revival: An Everlasting Allure is located before security in the International Terminal Main Hall Departures Lobby. The exhibition is on view to all airport visitors through June 2015.
Airport Workers Clean Runways in 15th Anniversary FOD WalkFor the 15th year in a row, on October 8, 2014, airport workers cleaned Foreign Object Debris (FOD) from SFO's runways. The event is designed to raise employee awareness on the importance of preventing FOD. FOD refers to any object that does not belong in or around aircraft and could, as a result, causes damage to aircraft or injury to airport personnel. While Airfield Safety Officers at SFO conduct runway safety checks multiple times every day, the Runway FOD Walk allows airport workers to participate and be involved in preventing items from becoming FOD. “Since 1999, the Runway FOD Walk has become a vital part of the safety culture at SFO,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “This event engages our employee population as a whole, serving as a reminder that everyone at SFO contributes to our #1 goal of safety.” View a video about the SFO Runway FOD Walk.
Airport Employees Return Large Sum of Money Found in the Terminal
Leopoldo Ramirez, an airport custodian, recently found an envelope in the terminal that contained $1,200 in cash. He promptly contacted his supervisor, Miguel Rodriguez, and they both went to the Airport Duty Managers (ADM) Office to meet ADM Nancie Parker to return the money to the passenger who lost it. There appeared to be a name and some numbers (possibly a flight number) on the envelope. Initial efforts to locate the passenger via the airlines and SFO paging were unsuccessful so they released the money to the SFPD Lost & Found Department. Members of the Custodial section are well aware of the dedication and commitment of both these employees. Leopoldo Ramirez started working at SFO in April of 2009 and quickly became known as an extremely helpful and talented worker. In a short amount of time that he has worked at SFO, Leopoldo has become accomplished in every facet of custodial work, including pressure washing sidewalks, high dusting of aerial lifts, detailed cleaning of the restrooms, and delivering supplies to terminals. He has also been trained to operate both the forklift and aerial boom lifts. His work assignment requires him to often substitute to other work stations, which he does effortlessly.
Miguel Rodriguez, Leopoldo’s co-worker and supervisor, is also an asset to SFO. He is versatile and has encouraged a spirit of comradely among his co-workers. He is known for his custodial knowledge, dedication and dependability. Miguel, along with his crew, can be found cleaning one day and moving baggage from an inoperable carousel the next.
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